Appeal to open the road behind Temple Trees

Monday, 2 March 2015 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

We the residents living behind Temple Trees, R.A. De Mel Mawatha, Colombo 3, appeal to you to open the road that has been closed since 2003. We the users and residents of this road waited patiently till the war was over and requested the authorities to open the road. The residents met presidential candidate Maithripala Sirisena who agreed to open all the roads that were closed. We find that roads around Fort and President’s House have been opened, not the road behind Temple Trees. We the residents behind Temple Trees have suffered due to the closure of the road; we are unable to go to our place of worship or go to our residences and offices located behind Temple Trees, which is violation of human rights. The Sri Dharma Keerthiyarama Road temple’s main gate access is closed. This is in front of the rear entrance of Temple Trees. The mosque and the St. Michael’s Church, the convent and the two schools cannot park vehicles due to the closure of the road. Hence the right to visit one’s own places of worship, schools, residences and offices has been obstructed. The traffic that flows through Duplication Road is obstructed. Hence the vehicles have to take a longer route with longer traffic jams, as a result the daily fuel wastage is more than Rs. 10 million per day due to the closure of the road. Senior citizens who have put all their life savings and built houses, offices and business premises thinking of getting a return of their assets are unable to realise their dreams by selling or renting these premises when the interest rates are so low. When the residents met President Sirisena he told us that he has instructed the Prime Minister and the Interior Minister to open the road behind Temple Trees. The residents of the following roads are obstructed: Nelson Lane, Muhandiram Road, Carmel Road, St. Michael’s Road, Hudson Road, Alwis Place, Rotunda Gardens, and Perahera Mawatha. We the residents behind Temple Trees humbly appeal to the Prime Minister to open the road and break the barriers and the wall obstructing free movement of the people, which is a basic right of the people. Residents around Temple Trees, R.A. de Mel Mawatha, Colombo 3.